Oil-well fishing tool



F. J. HINDERLITER 1,763,703

OIL WELL FISHING TOOL June 17, 1930.

Filed May 25, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l IE-g. l Izdc/ Patented June 17, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FRANK J'. HINDERLITER, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR TO HINDERLITER TOOL COMPANY, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA, A CORPORATION OF OKLAHOMA oIL-wELL FISHING 111001J .Appncation mea nay 25,

My invention pertains torotary mechanism for use in connection with the drilling of oil wells and more particularly to a method of and an apparatus for removing rotarydisks, cones, cutters, broken pieces of fish tail bits and the like from a well in which they have broken off the tool or bit.

1n the drilling. of an' 611 Wen or the likel An object of this invention is to provide a/ method of and an apparatus for fishing these metal fragments broken ofi' the drilling tools from the well.

Another object of my invention is to provide a fishing tool for use in connection with oil wells, adapted to be rotated in the bottom of the well to force and thread the tool I fragments upwardly, and having hydraulic means for facilitating the rotation of the tool and for assisting the tool. in forcing the broken tool fragments upwardly out `of the bottom of the well.

In accordance with the general features of my invention, I provide a rotarycylindrical tool having its lower end formed into a cone equipped with a helical thread. Positioned in the tool and extending downwardly through itis a mandrel member for discharging a hydraulic jet through an opening disposed at the vortex of said conical end. The pointed end of the tool is such that it will turn a broken tool fragment that is in the well hole up on one side and it will thereafter mill its way downwardly with the assistance of the hydraulic jet that is forced out of its end.

The fishing tool is provided with an opening disposed above the conical end and adapted, when the conical end gets down past the broken tool fragment, to receive said fragment. That is to say, when the fishing tool has milled its way a sufficient distance into the bottom of the well to bring the tool frag- 1927. serial no. 194,015.

ment into alignment with the slot, the tool fragment will fall or gravitate into the interior of the fishing tool. Thereafter, the tool may be withdrawn upwardly from the well and the metal fragments therein may be removed.

Of course, it is to be understood that although my invention is especially designed for use in the drilling of oil Wells, it is not to l be thus limited, for, obviously, it could be used in other capacities without deviatingfrom the features of my invention.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illulsltrilte several embodiments thereof, and in w 1c Figure 1 is an elevation of an oil well fishing tool of my invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the tool shown in Figure l, looking downwardly from'the top of the tool;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on sub.- stantially the line III-III of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a view illustrating the first step in the operation of my tool, wherein the metallic tool fragment is engaged by the nose or point of the fishing tool;

Figure 5 is a view illustrating a second step in the, operation of my tool, wherein the broken cutter is being threaded or forced up the side of the threaded and conical end of the fishing tool;

Figure 6 is a view illustrating a third step in the operation of my tool, wherein the broken cutter is brought into alignment with the slot in the fishing tool;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view partly in elevation of the fishing tool shown in Figure l and lshowing the broken cutter within the interior of the conical end of the tool;

Figure Sis avertical sectional View through a modified form of tool;

Figure 9 is an elevation of another modification of my invention;

Figure l() is a sectional view taken on substantially the line X-X of Figure 9 looking upwardly;

Figure 11 is an elevation of a modified form of my invention;

Figure 12 is a sectional View, partly in elevation, taken on substantially the line XII- XII of Figure 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 13 is an end view taken from the bottom of the device as shown in Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a sectional yiew taken on substantially the line XIV-XIV of Figure 12, looking upwardly; f i

Figure 15 is a sectional view taken on the line XV-XV of Figure 12;

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken on the line XVI-XVI of Figure 12; and

Figure 17 is a sectional view taken on the line XVII-XVII of Figure 12, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

In the drawings:

The reference character 10 designates generally a hollow, cylindrical member which constitutes a principal part of my tool. This member 1() comprises an intermediate cylindrical portion 11, a conical end 12, and a reduced end 13. The reduced end 13 is connected to the intermediate portion 11 byy an inwardly tapering portion 14. The reduced end 13, as best shown in Figure 7, is hollow and provided with a thread 15. The lower end of a pipe 16 is adapted to be threaded into this threaded opening 15.

The conical end 12 of the tool 10 has its outer periphery provided with a helical thread 17, which may be of anyconventional design and pitch. The vortex or point of the conical end 12 is provided with an orifice or opening 18. Disposed in axial alignment with this orifice 18 is a hollow mandrel member 19, which has its lower end abutting a shoulder 20 formed in the interior wall of the conical end 12. The upper end of the tubular member or mandrel 19 is provided with a circular head 21 disposed in substantially the junction of portion 15 and reduced end 13. This head 21 is of substantially the same diameter as the lower end of the opening 15 in reduced end 13. That is to say, t-he head 21 constitutes a closure for thelower Lthe intermediate portion 11 and the conical end 12 are disposed offset and eccentric with respect to the reduced end 13. `The reduced end 13 is disposed in axial alignment with the rotary tubular member 16. This tube 16 is adapted to receive a supply' of fluid, which may be water, and to discharge the same into the tubular mandrel 19. It will be evident from the illustration i'n Figure 7 that the mandrel 19 will discharge the fluid passing therethrough into the orifice 18 and out of the conical end of the tool 10. The wall of the intermediate portion 11 is provided with a relatively large opening or slot 22 through which broken drilling tool parts are discharged into the interior of the conical end 12.

lar member 16 and it is thereafter lowered bodily into the oil well.` Of course, it is to be understood that thesame rotary member may be used to actuatethe fishing tool of my invention as that employed to rotatel .the drilling tool. The only requisite of the actuating member is that it be capable of supplying a hydraulic fluid to my fishing tool. The upper end of the actuating member 16 may be connected to any conventional driving mechanism, such as the powerunit used to actuate the drilling tool. Also, the upper vend of the actuatingv member 16 should be connected to a source of fluid, which, as previously mentioned, may be water.

When the conical end of the fishing tool 10 strikes the bottom of the well, the tool may be set into rotation. The conical end 12 of tool 10 (Figure 4) upon engaging the broken tool part, which may be a cutter 24, tips the cutter and tends to force it upwardly alongside the conical surface of end 12. Then the cutter or tool fragment 24 will be subjected to the action of the helical thread 17 on conical end 12, which will result in it being threaded upwardly alongside the conical surface of end 12. All during this time, the conical end 12 will be milling its way dowr into the bottom of the well hole. This milling action will be assisted by the hydraulic jet leaving the orifice 1 8. In other words, the Water forced from the vortex of the conical end 12 will tend to wash the dirt upwardly about the conical end, thus facilitating and augmenting the downward drilling action of the fishing tool.

By making the intermediate portion 11 and the conical end 12 of the fishing tool eccentric with respect to the actuating member, it will be found that a sweeping-like action will be imparted to the tool as it is rot-ated. This action is highly advantageous, since it will augment the milling action of the tool. The thread 17 on the conical end 12 not only serves to thread the broken cutter 24 upwardly alongside of the tool, but also acts as a cutting thread for enabling the tool to mill its way downwardly into the earth at the bottom of the well. f

Of course, it will be understood that due with the wall of the well being drilled. This necessarily means that during apart of each rotation of the -tool, the' broken cutter 25 which has been engaged by the thread 12 will tend to fall away from the vconical end into contact with .the wall of the well. In otherk words, the cutter 24 willtend to assume a slanting position with its lowermost portion engaged in a groove of thread 17 and its uppermost portion in contact with the well even thoughv the cutter 24 assumes such a slanting position, the action of the thread on the cutter will in no way be aii'ected thereby. Obviously, therefore, the thread 17 will conical end 12 of the tool.

screw the cutter 24 upwardly alongside the ing of water into the well results in the formation of slime at its bottom. This slime and water works up along the rotating tool /and forces .the cutter upwardly andinto'engagement with the thread 17 on the/conlcal end 12 of the tool. In fact, this slime actually aids in forcing the cutter upwardly until 1t reaches a position directly opposite Mthe slot 22.

Now, when the conical end 12 of the tool gets. down past the tool fragmentor cutter 24, the cutter 24 will be aligned with slot 22, as shown in Figure 6.

Thereafter, the broken drill part or cutter will drop into the interior of the conical end 12, as shown in Figure 7. After this last step has been accomplished, the supply of water to the member 16.may be shut oil' and the rotation of the member 16 and tool 10 may be arrested.l

Then theishing tool 10 and the broken drill part therein ,mayl be drawn upwardly out of the oil well. When all of the broken drill parts have been removed from the 011 well, the drilling operatlon may be continued. n

In Figure 8 I have illustrated a modlfied form of my invention in which a tool 10 is'made of three separate parts 11', 12 .and 13, corresponding to the intermediate portion 11, the conical end 12, and the reduced end 13 of the tool shown in Figure 1. The conical end 12 has a helical thread 17 on its 'outer periphery. The reduced end part 13 has a threaded opening 15 into which an end of the actuating member may be threaded. This part also has an ofset opening 26 in communication with opening 15. .The lower end of part 13 has a reduced threaded portion 27 and a shoulder 28. The threaded portion 27 is threaded; into the upper end of the tubular intermediate portion 11.f The shoulder 280i` part 13 abuts the top end of the intermediate part 11. Also, it will be noted that reduced portion 27 of part 13 has a circular bore 29 dis osed in axial alignment with the interior o part 11 and communicating with the opening 26. The parts 11' and 12 alignment, but are offset with respect to the upper end of part 1 3 and the associated driving member.

The lower end of the intermediate part 11 i's provided with a threaded opening 30 communicating at its upper end with the interior of an intermediate part. Conical end 12 has a reducedportion 31 threaded into opening wall. However, it will be remembered that 30. It also has an annular shoulder^32 abutting the lower end` of the part 11. It will be noted that part 12 is substantially solid, with the exception of an axial passageway 33 terminating at the vortex 34 of part 12.

Positioned in the bore 35 of intermediate i i Y part 11is a tubular or mandrel member 36 Moreover, it is to be noted that the forcintermediate partI 11 is defined by 'a conical wall 40 adapted to be disposed flush with the sides defining the conical recess in portion 31 of conical end 12.

The upper end of tubular 'member 36 is provided with a head portion 41 disposed in opening 29. It is of substantially the same diameter as opening 29 and is adapted to act as a closure for this opening, so that the fluid entering the opening 29 will be discharged into the interior of the tubular member 36, rather than into the bore 35. Also, the intermediate part 11 is provided with a slot 42 in its wall communicating with ,the bore 36. This slot corresponds to the slot 22 in the form of my device shown-in Figure ,1. The operation of this form of my linvention is substantially like that shown in Figure 1 and it is, therefore, thought that no further description of the same is necessary.

It is to be noted that the tool 10 shown in Figure 8 comprises three parts, which may be very readily separated to` permit of replacement of parts or to permit of the cleaning of the tool.

In Figures 9 and 10 I have illustrated a form of my invention wherein the intermediate portion 11a and the conical portion 12a are disposed in axial alignment with the reduced end portion 13a. In this form of the invention, the helical thread 17a extends clear from the end of the conical portion 12a to the tapered portion 14a. The threaded intermediate portion 11*1 has a pair of diametrically opposed slots 22a similar to the slot 22 in the are disposed in axial form of myinvention shown in Figure 1. The inside construction of this modiiedorm of tool 10* is substantially identical( to that of the tool 10 and it is, therefore, thought that no further/description of the same is required.

The modification of the invention shown in Figures 12 to 17 inclusive embodies a different principle from the forms previously described. This form is particularly useful where the earth at the bottom of the well is relatively hard, making it difficult for the conical end 12 of the device 10 to screw its way into the earth. In the form of the invention shown in Figure 11, a screwlike part or bit is used in place of the conical end 12 shown in Figure 1. y

The device comprises essentially three parts, namely, the bit 50, an intermediate sleeve 51, and a top 52. Bothl the bit 50 and the top 52 are threaded into thev ends of the intermediate sleeve 51.

The top 52 includes a cylindrical opening 53 threaded at its upper end 54. The lower end of top 52 is reduced at 55, forming a shoulder 56. This reduced end 55 is threaded at 57 into the upper end of intermediate sleeve 51. The shoulder 56 of top 52 is adapted to abut the upper end of sleeve 51.

The outer periphery of sleeve 51 is provided 'with a helical thread 58. This helical thread 58 is disposed in alignment and in communication with the helical thread 59 on the upper end of bit 50. One side of the sleeve 51 is provided with a slot 6() through which the broken drill parts are adapted to enter the interior of the device.

The upper end of bit 50 is provided with areduced portion 61 and a shoulder 62 adapted to abut the lower end of sleeve 5l. This reduced end 61 is threaded into an opening 63 in the lower end of sleeve 51. From this, it will be evident that both the top and bit are readily detachable from the intermediate sleeve 51.

Positioned within the bore of sleeve 51 is a mandrel or tubular member 65 substantially identical to the member 36 shown in Figure 8. The' upper end of this member 65 is provided with a flange orhead 66 which constitutes a closure for the annular opening 53 and top 52. Also, if it is so desired, the head may be provided with a number of relatively small openin s 67 through which wires may be inserted or the purpose of moving the mandrel member 65 bodily upward out of the top 52.

'The lower end of the mandrel member 65 extends into an opening 68 in the reduced end 61 of bit 50. This lower end of the member 65 is disposed in axial alignment with the opening 70, which extends clear through the bit 50.

The bit 50 has a pair of helical grooves 71 of a suflicient pitch and lead to carry any material entering therein up to the helical The operation of this form of my invention is briefiy as. follows:

A rotary member is threaded into the upper end 54 of opening 53 in the top 52 and the device is then lowered into the well. The mandrel member 65 in this form of the invention performs the same function as it does in the other forms, namely, to conduct a jet lof water into the drilling member or bit 50.

This jet of water passes through the axial opening 70 in bit 50 and is discharged at the lower end of the bit into the bottom of the well. It will be evident that this water will materially aid the bit in the drilling operation.

When the bit 50 strikes the bottom of the well, the device is actuated to revolve the4 bit. Obviously, by revolving the bit 50, the

dirt at the bottom of the well will be drilled upwardly along the groovesk71 and onto the helical threads 59 and 58. As the dirt moves upwardly, it carries with it the broken drill parts which are to be removed from the well. These parts, after leaving the grooves 71 in the bit 50, come into engagement with thev helical threads 59 and 58, which threads carry the parts upwardly to a position opposite the slot 60. After the drill parts reach this position, they will obviously gravitatey into the interior of the sleeve 51. Thereafter, the rotation of the device may be arrested and the device may be withdrawn bodily from the well.' As previously pointed out, the advantage of the drill orbit 50 at the lower end of the sleeve 51, is that it will dig its way into the earth should the earth be relatively hard or should the bottom of the well present a relatively flat surface to the action thereof. Obviously, if the bottom of the well is relatively flat, the conical end 12 shown in Figure 1 would have considerable difliculty in penetrating it. This difficulty is completely obviated if a drill such as the bit 50fis used in place of the conical end, as shown in Figure 11.

Now, it is of course to be understood tha although I have illustrated and described in detail the preferred forms of my invention, the invention is not to be thus limited, but only in so far as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims. v

lI claim as my invention:

1. In combination in a tool for removing broken drill parts and the like from a well, a member adapted to be lowered to the bottom of a well and having a pocket for receiving a broken-drill part and means connected with said\member operable to displace l'lo ' associated with the lower end of the member for forcing the broken drill parts upwardly alongside of said latter means into the interior of vsaid member through said slot.

3. In combination, in a tool for removing broken drill parts from a well, a hollow member adapted to be lowered to the bottom of the well, means for actuating said member, means associated with the lower end of the member for causing the broken drill part to crawl upwardly into said member, and fluid pressure means connected to'said member for aiding 'said latter means.

4. In combination, in a'tool fo'removing broken drill parts from a well, a hollow member adapted to be lowered to the bottom of the well, and a conical portion associated 'with said member having a thread vthereon formed so as to receive and force the broken drill parts upwardly alongside of said portion and into the interior 4of said hollow member. A

5. As an article of manufacture, a tool for removing broken drill parts from a well, comprising a,rotatable member including a tubular port-ion, and a conical point connected to one end of said tubular portion, said conical point being formed so as to allow the parts to move between it and the wall of the well and to cooperate with the wall of the well in forcing the broken drill parts upwardly alongside of said point to a position where said lparts may enter the interior of the said tubular portion.

6. As an article of manufacture, a tool for removing broken drill parts from a well, comprising a rotatable member including a tubular portion, and a conical point connected to one end of said tubular portion, said conical point being formedso as to allow the parts to move between it and the wall of the well and to cooperate with the wall of the well in forcing the broken drill parts upwardly alongside of said point to a position where said parts may enter the interior of the said tubular portion, and Huid pressure means eX- tending through said tubular portion and discharging through the vortex of said conical.

portion.

7. As an article of manufacture, a tool for removing broken drill parts from a well, comprising a rotatable member including a tubular portion, and a conical point connected to one end of said tubular portion, said' conical point being adapted to force the broken drill parts in the bottom of the well upwardly alongside of said point to a position where said parts may enter the interior ofthe said tubular-portion, and hydraulic means extending through said portions comprising a tube having its lower end in alignment with an A orifice in the vortex of said conical portion.

8. As an article of manufacture, a tool for removing broken drill parts from a Well,

comprising a rotatable member including a tubular portion, and a conical point connected to one end of said tubular portion, said conical point being adapted to force the broken drill parts in the bottom of the well upwardly alongside of said point to a position where said parts may enter the interior of the said tubular poijion, said tubular portion having a slot through which said drill parts may enter the interior of the same.

9. As an article of-manufacture, a tool for removing brokenl drill parts from a well, comprising a rotatable member including a tubular portion, and a conical point connected to one end of said tubular portion, said conical point being adapted to force the broken drill parts in the bottom of the well upwardly alongside of said point to a position where said parts may enter the interior of the. said tubular portion, said conicalportion having a helical thread formed on the periphery thereof of such a shape that it will cooperate withthe wall of the well in causing the drill parts to enter said tubular portion.

10. As an article of manufacture, a tool for removing broken drill parts from a well, comprising a member adapted to be lowered to the bottom of the well including a hollow portion having its lower end provided with I a helical thread and a slot in a side wall thereof, said lower end of the said member being formed to force said drill parts upwardly alongside of said lower end of said member to a position where they may enter the interior of said hollow portion through said slot.

11. As an article of manufacture, a tool for removing broken drill parts from a well, comprising a rotary member adapted to be lowered tothe bottom of the well including an upper portion, a hollow intermediate portion, and a lower portion, and means associated with said lower portion for forcing thc broken drill parts upwardlyY and into the interior of said hollow portion, said hollow' and lower portions being eccentric and offset with respect to the said upper portion.

12. As an article of manufacture, a tool for removing broken drill parts from a well, comprisiiig a rotary member adapted to be lowered to the bottom of the well including an upper portion, a hollow intermediate portion, and a lower portion, and means associated with said lower portion for forcing the broken drill parts upwardly and into the interior of said hollow portion, said hollow and lower portions being eccentric and offset withl respect to the said upper portion,

said portions being readily detachable from each other. t

13. As' an article of manufacture, a tool for removing broken drill arts from a well, comprising a rotary mem er adapted to be lowered to thebottom of the well including an upper portion, a hollow intermediate portion, and a lowerportion, said upper portion being connectableto driven means for actuating said t-ool, said lower portion being conical and having a helical thread formed in its outer periphery for causing the broken drill parts to be'forced upwardly alongside of said thread to aposition where they will align with an opening in said hollow portion, whereby they are free to enter said hollow portion.

14. As an article of manufacture, a tool for removing broken drill parts from a well, comprising a rotary member adapted to be lowered to the bottom of the well including an upper portion, a hollow intermediate portion, and a lower portion, said upper portion beingconnectable to driven means for actuating said tool, said lower portion being conical and having a helical thread formed in its outer periphery for causing the broken drill parts to be forced -upwardly along the side of said thread to a position where they will align with an opening in saidl hollow portion, whereby they are f ree to enter-said hollow portion, and hydraulic means extending through said member and adapted to discharge through an orifice in said conical portion.

15. The rocess of removing a broken drill part and t 'e like from the bottom of a well which consists in displacing and loosening the part at the bottom of the well from the mud and other such matter and then forcing the part to crawl upwardly alongside the wall of the well to a position where it is aocessiblefor removal from the well.

16. The process of removing a broken drill part and the like Yfrom the bottom ofa well which consists in displacing and loosening the part at therbottom of the well from the mud and other such matter then forcing the part to crawl upwardly alongside the wall ofthe well to a position Vwhere it is accessible for removal from the well, and subjecting the earth at the bottom of the well to hydraulic pressure in order to facilitate the removal of said part therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, Cook County,

Illinois.

FRANK J. HINDERLITER. 

